Foot Eczema Is Common in Winter

Juvenile Plantar Eczema or "foot eczema" is skin inflammation triggered by friction of the sole of the foot often from rubbing against the inside of an ill-fitting synthetic athletic shoe or trainer. Juvenile Plantar Eczema is also known as juvenile plantar dermatitis, forefoot dermatitis, atopic winter feet, dermatitis plantaris sicca, forefoot eczema, peri-digital dermatitis, sweating sock dermatitis.

Juvenile plantar eczema most often occurs in boys between 3-15 years of age, but it occasionally occurs in adults and females. When it occurs in children it does tend to gradually improve. It is usually most severe during the summer months. The synthetic materials or chemicals used in the shoes or socks often play an important role in foot eczema. Sweat retention and covering of the feet by woolen or polyester socks aggravates this condition. Keeping the foot for a long time in a shoe or sock without aeration is an important triggering factor. Changing to leather footwear and wearing cotton socks may help relieve the problem. Above all else it is important that the footwear fits well and the sole of the foot is not sliding against the insole of the shoe. Walking barefooted on woolen or polyester carpets may contribute to juvenile plantar eczema as this may lead to static electric charges that may play a role in skin dryness and initiation of this condition.

Juvenile plantar eczema is characterized by symmetrical smooth, red-glazed appearance of the skin with fissuring, loss of epidermal ridge pattern, and fine scaling. It causes the sole of the foot to become red, hot, and sore. The most common symptoms are redness, irritation, cracking, and soreness, itching is seldom reported. The plantar surfaces of the larger toes are the first areas to be involved. Other weight-bearing areas are subsequently affected, but there is relative sparing of the instep and inter-digital web spaces of the foot.

Itchy skin can be psychologically stressful

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Chronically itchy skin can take not only a physical toll but a psychological one as well, a new study suggests.

Research has linked various skin conditions, such as severe acne, psoriasis and eczema, to higher risks of depression, anxiety and stress in some individuals. But it has not been clear whether chronic itchiness -- a common symptom of skin disorders -- can cause its own distress.

The new study, of more than 2,200 Japanese adults age 18 and up, found that 3 percent complained of chronically itchy skin, also known as pruritus. And the more severe the problem, the more likely they were to score high on a measure of psychological stress.

The findings suggest that the symptom itself, and not just the disorders it marks, can take an emotional toll, according to the researchers, led by Dr. Yosuke Yamamoto of Kyoto University in Japan.

They report the results in the latest issue of Archives of Dermatology.

The study included 2,224 Japanese adults who kept health diaries over one month and completed a standard questionnaire called the Perceived Stress Scale -- which measures, for instance, how often a person has felt "nervous" or "stressed" in the past month.

Participants used the diaries to record the presence and severity of various symptoms, including itchiness.

Overall, Yamamoto's team found, participants with itchy skin had a higher average score on the stress scale than other participants did. And the more frequent the symptom, the higher the scores.

The link between itchiness and stress was also seen among participants who had more than two health complaints. This, according to the researchers, suggests that itchiness itself has psychological effects independent of other health problems.

A number of skin conditions -- including eczema, recurrent hives and psoriasis -- are marked by sometimes intensely itchy skin. The current findings suggest that if the symptom is not well-controlled, it can be a source of psychological, as well as physical, hardship, according to the researchers.

They point out that the questionnaire they used in the study cannot diagnose clinical depression or other mental health disorders. But people's scores do serve as an indicator of general psychological distress.

In turn, the researchers note, chronic stress may affect the immune, hormonal and cardiovascular systems, potentially affecting long-term physical health.

How Can We Reduce Stress Related To Itchy Skin?

Dermatitis-Ltd tells us it is important in the treatment of eczema and psoriasis to treat the cause of the disease and the aggravating factors in as many ways as possible. Those who modify their lifestyles, mind their eating habits, and reduce their level of stress often experience a much greater degree of eczema and psoriasis clearing. There are several excellent methods of stress reduce to aid in eczema and psoriasis control.

Stress is the body's reaction to a perceived threat. Adrenaline and hormones are released, and the nervous system is activated, sharpening our senses, but simultaneously our pulse raises, our muscles tense and our immune system begins to shut down. Those that cannot relieve stress as needed may experience fatigue, upset stomach, and frequent headaches. Adult acne and rosacea are sometimes by-products of stress and/or dehydration.

Avoid stressful situations. Anger, embarrassment and fright may all result in flushing and trigger rosacea symptoms.

You can combat stress by changing your situation, your attitude toward people and things (we can learn to be positive), and taking the personal time out to have fun and friendship. Sleep eight hours or more per night to help alleviate stress. Caffeine, being a stimulant, can make you hyper and cause difficulty in sleeping.

Stimulants such as coffee, tea, cigarettes, and excessive sugar from sweets and soda are vascular dilators and should be avoided. Sodas (soft drinks, pop) containing aspartame and or NutraSweet cause excessive redness in approximately 30% of rosacea sufferers and should be avoided. Anything that affects the entire body, brain, and nervous system to awaken it in the morning or stimulate it during the day can easily stimulate the sebaceous glands to secrete more oil that has to leave the body via the pores. Also, stimulants create stress.

Aerobic exercise is a great way to alkalize your body by replacing carbon dioxide with oxygen. However, any exercise should be moderated to prevent a build-up of lactic acid,an acidic byproduct of muscle activity. When your muscles begin to "burn," you know that lactic acid is building up. If you exercise regularly, try to break up your sessions for a maximum of thirty minutes at a time and remember to drink more water on days you are exercising. Otherwise, fifteen minutes of aerobic exercise each day would be a good start.

SOURCE: Archives of Dermatology, December 2009.

Relieve Eczema Irritation and Dryness with Moisture

Eczema can result from skin contact with a substance that irritates the skin. The symptoms of eczema include itching, redness, dry/flaky skin, and even blisters. Usually the first symptom of eczema is intense itching; this itching can be very uncomfortable and individuals may tend to scratch the skin. The itchy feeling is an important symptom in eczema, because scratching and rubbing in response to itching worsen the skin inflammation characteristic of eczema. The will become redder in color and may even crack due to scratching. Scratching may also lead to infection. The urge to scratch symptom becomes a repetitive cycle: the more you scratch, the more it itches.

Moisturizers can be helpful in protecting the skin from dryness and irritation. An excellent moisturizer is 100% pure Jojoba oil with no preservatives. It is an excellent moisturizer and softens the skin by a dual action – firstly by forming a non-greasy lipid layer, which is partially occlusive (thereby preventing water-loss through the skin) and by the diffusion of Jojoba into the intercellular spaces of the stratum corneum to soften this tissue. The importance of Jojoba oil derives from its similarity to the natural restorative oil produced by the sebaceous glands in the dermal layers of the skin. Jojoba oil is non-allergenic and will not clog the pores.

Jojoba is completely mixable with the natural sebum of the skin, and when used on the skin, forms a very thin, non-greasy lipoid layer. This layer is partially porous and provides exceptional trans-epidermal respiration and moisture control. Unlike greasy occlusive materials such as petrolatum, mineral oils, and some lanolin products, Jojoba oil provides an absolutely non-tacky, non-oily, and non-greasy, dry softening to the skin.

Jojoba is an extremely functional ingredient in hair and scalp preparations and many scalp related problems are caused by a hardened build-up of sebum that clogs the hair follicles and may cause some types of scaling. If this hardened build-up is not removed, it can eventually obstruct the hair follicle's ability to function properly, which can lead to a loss of the hair shaft, and ultimately, death of the follicle. Jojoba rapidly penetrates down to the scalp and hair shaft, and readily loosens and dissolves this hardened build-up. The scalp and hair follicles are left clean and free to continue their normal function. It is also an excellent soil-dissolving agent, which can remove sticky build-up on the hair from many modern hair preparations as well as airborne particulates. Jojoba will leave the hair clean and supple. Jojoba exhibits a matchless keratoplastic effect that leaves the hair shimmering and brings out the hair's natural color overtones and brilliance, and a periodic treatment with Jojoba oil being massaged into the scalp and hair, and then left to do its work, can make a vast difference to the quality of your hair as well as the health of your scalp.

Since Jojoba oil has an affinity to the skin, and the normal skin lubrication found in the skin (sebum), it is used with great effect in a variety of skin care applications, ranging from anti-acne to anti-aging products. It has a great effect on fighting wrinkles, as well as having an anti-bacterial effect on the skin. Although people see Jojoba as oil, it is really a wax ester, and is non-oily or greasy and contains high levels of tocopherols, which have an antioxidant effect on the skin.

Skin absorption studies at the University of Michigan demonstrated that Jojoba is quickly absorbed into the skin, which is apparently via the transappendegeal mechanism and occurs through the pores and hair follicles – but because it is so rapidly absorbed, the pores and hair follicles remain open and thus maintain their proper functioning ability.

Eczema Treatment and Research

The diagnosis of eczema can be made more difficult by the similarity of other skin conditions to eczema such as psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, acne, and rosacea. And to make treatment more challenging, all of these skin conditions have various sub-types that make the final diagnosis and effective treatment more complicated.

If your skin condition is located in the facial area, you may be suffering from rosacea, acne, and seborrheic dermatitis, atopic, or contact eczema. Understanding the differences in these conditions can make the treatment of your skin condition more effective. Making this process even more difficult is the fact that you can actually suffer from more than one skin condition at a time.

The many symptoms that mimic eczema and the many skin conditions with symptoms similar to eczema can make the diagnosis of eczema difficult.

Eczema is used to describe all kinds of red, blistering, oozing, scaly, brownish, thickened, and itching skin conditions. Eczema is associated with dry, rough, red, itchy, skin dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing, or bleeding.

Atopic dermatitis is related to asthma and hay fever-type allergies, and is often seen in early childhood. This type of acne-related condition is characterized by a speedy distribution of reddish irritation that can be prickly, swollen and erupted. The eyelids, neck and hands are most commonly affected in adults.

Perioral Dermatitis is an acne-like inflammation generally consists of small red bumps or even pus bumps and mild peeling as the skin is extremely aggravated. Perioral dermatitis is often aggravated by fluoridated or tartar-control toothpaste, chapstick, the ingredients in lipstick, and mouthwash. It is also believed that topical steroids, residue from asthma inhalers t containing steroids, cinnamon, cosmetics, and even moisturizers contribute to perioral dermatitis.

Light sensitive Eczema that is caused by sunlight is rare. If it happens it is likely to occur on the face, hands and arms. Using high SPF factor sun creams can treat it. Sometimes this eczema can be caused when people are taking medication that reacts to sunlight e.g. antihistamines and arthritis medications. Ingredients in soaps and cosmetics may also cause this.

Milia sometimes referred to as milk spots or oil seeds, are benign, keratin-filled cysts that can appear just under the skin. These little white bumps, or milia, are keratin-filled cysts, or simply little globs of protein under the skin. Milia can be mistaken for stubborn acne whiteheads.To reduce creating milia around the eyes, use eye creams with the least amount of ingredients possible to avoid irritating the delicately thin eye area. Also, gently touch the eyes and avoid rubbing the eyes vigorously so as not to damage the skin

In its classic symptoms rosacea is patchy flushing (redness) and inflammation, particularly on the cheeks, nose, forehead, and around the mouth.

The butterfly rash of lupus can also lead to a mis-diagnosis of eczema. A common symptom of lupus includes a red rash or color change on the face, often in the shape of a butterfly across the nose and cheeks, which can be mistaken for rosacea.

Acne is the term for plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, and even deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and even the upper arms.

The International Eczema-Psoriasis Foundation

Our skin is often perceived as the window to who we are. It is only human to judge others by their appearance; therefore we are often identified by our skin condition or imperfections, or even the color of our skin. The largest human organ isn't the liver, the kidneys or the lungs; it's the skin. Our skin is our front line protection against the outside world. The skin guards our internal organs against sunburn, dirt, bacteria, and other dangers. As our body's largest organ, the skin is also the first to react to change. A number of factors can affect the skin.

The mission of the International Eczema-Psoriasis Foundation is to gather in one place information pertinent to eczema and psoriasis and to make the information helpful and easy to read and implement. The information provided has been found on in medical books and the web, and Dermatological Journal articles about the 156 various forms of dermatitis, and the 10 major terms describing eczema, and the six major terms describing psoriasis. Many dermatologist intermix the terms of eczema and psoriasis. We do not provide medical advice as you should always consult your dermatologist to diagnose the symptom that you are experiencing.

Eczema-Ltd: Understanding and Treating Eczema Craquele

Eczema Craquele is often worse in winter and appears on the legs, arms, and hands. Asteatotic eczema is characterized by dry, cracked, fissured skin and redness. Large dry scales may form on the skin giving a "crazy-paving" appearance to the skin. Asteatotic eczema may be triggered by soap remaining on the skin after a bed bath. Fair-skinned, sensitive or elderly people who bathe a lot in hot showers or tubs are at risk to develop Asteatotic eczema. Using a good moisturizing routine and switching from soap to a cleansing bar for dry sensitive skin such as Neutrogena transparent facial bar for dry skin formula - fragrance free, Dove that has been known for years for use on sensitive skin, Cetaphil moisturizing gentle cleansing bar for dry, sensitive skin can alleviate it. Steroid creams are generally best avoided because the underlying skin is already very thin and delicate.

Molecules in Skin Link Eczema and Asthma

In a study appearing in the May 19 in the journal PLoS Biology, research as shown below indicates that skin conditions such as acne, eczema, dermatitis and rosacea are in fact triggered as a result of an immune system response. A substance secreted by eczema-damaged skin might trigger asthma in children, U.S. researchers suggest. The theory comes from a study of mice with an eczema-like condition, which suggested that early treatment of eczema and inhibition of the trigger substance might help prevent asthma.

An estimated 50 percent to 70 percent of children with severe eczema (known as atopic dermatitis) develop asthma, compared with about 9 percent of children in the general population. In the United States, about 17 percent of children have eczema, although not all cases are severe.

The progression from eczema to asthma is called the atopic march. "Over the years, the clinical community has struggled to explain atopic march," Raphael Kopan, a professor of developmental biology and dermatology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and an author of the study, said in a news release from the school.

"So, when we found that the skin of mice with an eczema-like condition produced a substance previously implicated in asthma, we decided to investigate further," Kopan said. "We found that the mice also suffered from asthma-like responses to inhaled allergens, implicating the substance, called TSLP, as the link between eczema and asthma."

The researchers found that TSLP (thylmic stromal lymphopoietin) is secreted by damaged skin to alert the body that the skin's protective barrier has failed. TSLP activates an immune response that fights invaders. "We are excited, because we've narrowed down the problem of atopic march to one molecule," Kopan said. "We've shown that skin can act as a signaling organ and drive allergic inflammation in the lung by releasing TSLP. Now, it will be important to address how to prevent defective skin from producing TSLP. If that can be done," she said, "the link between eczema and asthma could be broken."

Over the counter acne treatments are often too strong and strip the skin of its protective barrier layer causing the skin to produce more oil as to repair and replenish the protective barrier destroyed by contact with harsh chemicals often found in acne treatments.

The skin is a protective barrier between our body organs and outside bacteria, pollution and disease. In fact it is a complex system of action and reaction. When TSLP (thylmic stromal lymphopoietin) is secreted by damaged skin to alert the body that the skin's protective barrier has failed, the TSLP activates an immune response that fights invaders. Skin conditions such as rosacea, acne, and eczema partially result from an overly acidic body and skin. The pH (potential of hydrogen) as you remember from your high school general science or chemistry class, ranges from 0 to 14 with 7 being neutral. As you think of your past rosacea history, you will see that all the rosacea triggers have come from 'acidic triggers' regardless of whether they are foods, drinks, stress, or lack of breath due to not enough oxygen (oxygen is an alkaline) and inability to exhaust enough carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide is acidic). We all know that if we hold our breath for 30 seconds or 60 seconds, we will all notice that our face turns pink or red. We all know, but hardly think that the cause is a build up of carbon dioxide which is an "acidic" gas and we have a shortage of oxygen. Very similarly, when we exercise for too long and become aerobic, we have a build up of lactic acid which is burned muscle and fat tissue (and obviously acidic) which results in more eczema redness.